Man held over store's drug sales

TRACY - A man was arrested and faces a variety of charges after police served search warrants Thursday at locations in Tracy and Dublin, authorities said.

By The Record

recordnet.com

By The Record

Posted May. 3, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By The Record

Posted May. 3, 2013 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

TRACY - A man was arrested and faces a variety of charges after police served search warrants Thursday at locations in Tracy and Dublin, authorities said.

Investigators from the Special Investigations Unit and other members of the Tracy Police Department searched Hi Times Tobacco in the 3300 block of North Tracy Boulevard and a residence in Dublin, authorities said. The searches were conducted as part of a months-long investigation into the distribution of narcotics through the storefront at the Tracy location, police said.

While searching the business, investigators found more than 600 vials of bath salts, which were described as a designer drug containing stimulant-like chemicals that mimic the effects of methamphetamine, authorities said. They also found more than $40,000 in cash, anabolic steroids, a gun and other illegal weapons, including brass knuckles, batons and butterfly knives, police said.

Iberhim Bechwati, 40, of Dublin was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance for sale, distribution of controlled substances, possession of a controlled substance while armed with a firearm, commission of a felony while armed, possession of metal knuckles for sale, possession of a billy club for sale and possession of a switchblade for sale, police said.